DECR Chairman greets His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with his Name Day

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent the following greetings to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople with the commemoration day of St. Bartholomew:

His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I

Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome

and Ecumenical Patriarch

Your Holiness:

Please allow me to congratulate you with all my heart on your Name Day, the commemoration day of the holy apostle Bartholomew.

On that day, the Holy Church of Constantinople holds celebration in honour of her Primate. The Russian Church cannot stay out of the celebration.

In accordance with Christ’s teaching and being inspired by the Psalmist’s words, ‘How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!’ (Ps 133:1), the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow have for the third time sent their representatives to celebrate Name Days of their Primates. This tradition commenced during the memorable visit of Your Holiness to the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2010.

I respectfully wish Your Holiness strength by God’s grace in your primatial ministry as archbishop of New Rome to the joy of the God-loving flock entrusted to your care.

With respect and love in the Lord,

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate